DeKalb Fire Department Recognized for Participation in “100 For 100” Challenge

The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) proudly announces that eight fire departments who accepted the SFMO’s second “100 For 100” smoke alarm installation challenge more than doubled the goal of the Nov. 14, 2015 event.
The DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department made the list.
Created to commemorate the SFMO’s 100th anniversary, the “100 For 100” challenge is a fun way for fire departments to test their limits while providing crucial alert devices and safety education to the citizens of their local communities. Eight Tennessee fire departments accepted the SFMO’s challenge to install at least 100 alarms on Nov. 14 – then went above and beyond and installed 1,758 smoke alarms during the event. So far, over 2,800 new smoke alarms have been installed during the two “100 For 100” events.
“I am proud to thank all of our participating fire departments for their outstanding efforts to help ensure the safety of the citizens they serve,” said State Fire Marshal and Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak. “Our ‘100 For 100’ partners are showing their commitment to their communities by going above and beyond during these events. We look forward to individually recognizing our ‘100 For 100’ partners in the coming weeks. Congratulations to everyone!”
The eight participating departments for the November challenge included:
Dresden Fire Department (FD)
Martin FD
Willette Vol. FD
DeKalb County FD
Murfreesboro FD
Crossville FD
Sneedville Vol. FD
Sweetwater FD
Total: 1,758 alarms installed
According to National Fire ProtectionAssociation research, working smoke alarms cut the chance of dying in a fire in half. Meanwhile, three out of five fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. The SFMO created the “Get Alarmed, Tennessee!” smoke alarm program in 2012 to help address this problem through the installation of free smoke alarms in high-risk areas across the state. Since then, more than 26,000 homes have received the alarms and 106 lives have been potentially saved when the devices alerted occupants to fire danger.
The “100 For 100” initiative began in October with 10 fire departments completing the inaugural challenge with a total of 1,116 alarms installed.
A third challenge is planned for December. A date has not been finalized.
Participating fire departments will receive a special recognition from the SFMO for their work in making these events a success.